More push-ups

Worked 5 hours at Lone Star College Fire Academy

I took Molly for a leisure walk/run. The air was filled with humidity, making the run intervals uncomfortable. I took an old route that included the bayou rim on the second half. It was nice to get off the concrete.

Something is bothering Molly. She’s acting like she is not house-trained all the sudden and today she snapped at me. Earlier she pissed in her crate and when we walked inside the house she was trying to go inside her crate before I cleaned it. I was pushing her back, trying to keep her out. Something about that action caused her to snap at me. Needless to say, she spent the rest of the afternoon in her outdoor kennel. She’s back inside now and acting appropriately. Weird dog

I’m still trying to catch up on my push-up challenge. Today I completed 220, leaving me less than 37 push-ups behind. Tomorrow I need to do 105 and then I will be back on the Julian calendar.

Push-ups: 220

Run:

3.46 miles

53:41

15:31 pace

Push-up Challenge catch up

Worked 8 hours at Humble FD

I rode up as Captain on engine one today. Being busy isn’t anything new, but I keep overlooking my daily push-up challenge. As of today, I’m 400 push-ups behind. Throughout the day I randomly completed intervals of 20 push-ups. I completed a total of 240. Tomorrow I hope to finish the remaining push-ups until I am caught up. Of course there will be an additional 67 push-ups due tomorrow on top of the balance.

I took off work at 4pm to attend the first of several “Meet and Greet” information meetings for CCFA Team Challenge. The meeting was very informal, yet provided tons of information for potential team members. Several people signed up at the meeting, which is great news for the team. I’m hopeful we start with at least 50 members.

Push-ups: 240

Grass Farm bike ride

I met Steve and Westin for a 24 mile bike ride through the grass farm roads. 

Weston finally invested in a road bike, which made it easier for us to pick up the pace. We started at the church on Fairlake Road and rode to the gas station on HWY 90 in Crosby. I’m still having mechanical issues with my rear derailer. I made minor adjustments, but it needs a professional bike mechanic to look it over.

The weather was perfect for riding. The camaraderie of cycling with friends made the time go by fast. On the way back to Atascocita we worked together and had two strong pick-ups where we were riding more than 20 mph.

After the ride we hung out at the local Dairy Queen taking trash with each other. Fun was had by all.

Road Bike:

23.74 miles

1:33:14

15.28 mph

The Plane Great Ride (report)

Pre-race:

The morning temperatures were cooler than I expected (41-degrees). The race advertised “hills” in the literature, so I was worried about my lack of preparation. We arrived about an hour early along with 30-40 other people. I was expecting a small ride. After sitting in my truck for 30-minutes I came out to a parking lot of hundreds of other cyclist.

Alyson rode her new hybrid bike and she wasn’t nearly as excited about riding as I was. In fact, she seemed to have very little interest, but she never asked to go home.

We took the 25 mile route and joined the sub-16.0 mph pace group. The ride seemed sufficiently organized. I’m use to running events where you can see the details and logistics involved with a large race. Whereas in cycling, they seem to cut you loose and block a few roadways. I KNOW there is more to it than that, but you don’t see the details as much as a running race.  

I have always struggled to understand the attitudes of cyclist. They seem to be more “clickish” and not as friendly as runners. Maybe it’s just my perception. The ride marshals were on both side of the extremes. Two younger male riders rode next to us and started up a conversation and seemed excited to be part of the ride. I was all smiles once they left us. Then there was another marshal which was just shy of a bitch. All morning I listened to her barking out orders and yelling at riders. I knew we would be slow riders, so I stayed at the back of the corals. Twice she yelled at me to “MOVE UP!” It wasn’t safe for use to move up, so I held my spot. Shortly after we took off she was behind us on a narrow section of HWY 105. Alyson was beside me and there were LOTS of riders passing us on the left. I told Alyson to move to the right, closer to me, so she steered 6-10 inches towards me. This marshal was behind her and yelled, “HOLD YOUR LIIIIINE!”. I don’t know what her deal is, but she needs to relax…

Route/Course:

The ride wandered along beautiful country roads. I was nervous about loose dogs on a few sections, but we didn’t have any problems. The course had a constant roll, nothing too steep. There was one descent where I realized I was moving about 34 mph. That was faster than I expected and resulted in me hitting the brakes a little on the way down. The officers did a great job of blocking the roads. I only had to stop one time for traffic and it was literally the parking lot before the finish line. We stopped because a busy church was letting its patrons out.

Damage Control:

Something is wrong with my bike. I could only use a handful of my gears. It’s most likely the result of loose cables or my derailer needs adjustment. It was frustrating at times, but I was able to work around it by changing my front rings more. Around mile 20 I turned onto a side rode to pee. I was in a hurry to get back to the group and apparently I jumped off the bike to fast and the front rings clawed my right calf pretty bad.

Aid Stations:

The aid stations were typical for bike rides. The food was minimal, but enough for a bike ride. I was looking for a mechanic, but never found one. The location was good, giving everyone ample room to socialize before continuing.

Gear:

While I was prepping my bike and getting dressed I realized I had forgotten socks. Luckily I ran into Lynn, which offered me a pair of spare socks. I need a new pair of cycling shoes. It’s hard to walk in my current road shoes and it is dangerous at times.

Fuel/Hydration/Supplements:

I didn’t drink much water. Luckily the ride was short and never bothered me. I ate a couple fig newton’s and some kind of small cupcake thing. I was never hungry.

Runners and Friends:

As I mentioned above, I saw Lynn, who I hadn’t seen in probably a year. Before the race started I also ran into Brian, who is a beginning cyclist and Jenny, which is a runner/triathlete. Both friends are full of energy and a lot of fun to be around.

Post Race:

There wasn’t much of a post-race party. I thought they advertised BBQ at the finish, but it ended up being hot dogs and chips. The United Airlines BBQ team was cooking and they had a BBQ pit that looked exactly like an airplane, which was VERY cool.

Lessons Learned:

I had a lot of fun by simply, “taking it easy”. The hills aren’t bad if you don’t beat yourself up trying to climb them.

Timing:

26.14 miles

2:13:31

11.76 mph

The Woodlands Half Marathon race report

Pre–race:

I’m embarrassed to admit that my running schedule has been put off for the better part of 6-months. I’ve run enough here and there to make an attempt at the Woodlands Half Marathon, but I knew in my heart that I was not prepared for a prideful run.

Weather:

Earlier this week the temperatures were in the mid-80’s and the humidity levels were off the chart. Lucky for us a mild cool front moved through Houston the day before the race, leaving us with near perfect weather. The temperature was in the 50’s with overcast skies. There was a small rain shower a couple hours into the event. The rain only lasted a few minutes which was quite refreshing.

Route/course:
After nearly 20-years, the Woodlands Marathon was resurrected. I don’t know where the original course was, but I really enjoyed the route for the half marathon. The route was a double loop for the full marathoners, which gave me a great opportunity to see the winners pass by.

Damage Control:
The only issue I had was a minor amount of chaffing on the left side of my chest from the sleeveless shirt I was wearing. Other than the minor chaffing, I didn’t have any issues whatsoever.

Race/RD/Aid stations:
The race director (Willie) did a great job. I was completely shocked how big the inaugural race was. The logistics for this race must have been crazy. From my viewpoint, everything was flawless. The aid stations were great and included two gel stations. The volunteers were both friendly and helpful.

Gear:
I ran with minimal gear. The only extra items I wore were my Garmin forerunner and a knee brace.

Fuel/Hydration/Supplements:

I meant to bring along a baggie of S-caps, but I accidently left them behind. There wasn’t much of a need for S-caps on the short course, so nothing was lost. I took two of the gel shots on the course and only consumed water. Even though I started the day with a crappy breakfast, my nutrition was dead-on.

Runners and Friends:

Several of the Texas Trail Nerds were running, but I couldn't find people I knew in the sea of runners. I ran into Jeff Irwin from the KTC and a group of old friends from the Houston Striders. I missed seeing Kevin Cox and Karen.

Post-race:

The post-race was less than what I expected. We noticed there were several food vendors on location, but they were charging for food. When we went to the My Fit Foods tent the line was at least a hundred people deep and wasn’t moving, so we just left. The post-race festivities looked fun and kid friendly, but it was a lot different than what I was expecting.

Lessons Learned:

This race reminded me how much fun you can have when you’re out there just to finish. I had pacing duties, which left me completely comfortable. I was shocked how much fun I had without the stress of “racing”.

Timing:

13.34 miles

3:06:50

14:00 pace

A couple pictures I took on the drive home:

14-pounds in 14-days

Worked 5 hours at Lone Star College Fire Recruit Academy

Breakfast: Mix n Mash

Lunch: Turkey Pasta

Snack: Trail Mix

Dinner: Gimme More Chicken Salad

Today was the first day that none of my My Fit Food meals were new.

Once again, the scale is reflecting my hard work. As of this morning I’ve lost 14-pounds in the last 14-days. One week left on the challenge and I’m shooting for eight more pounds. It is time to shave a few more calories and up the cardio.

Wyatt and I rode our trail bikes from his house to East End Park for a total of eleven miles. The ride was easy, even though my calves are still sore. Wyatt and I always have great talks and he helps me see matters from another angle. He's truly a good friend.

East End Park was destroyed by the drought and it’s not the same park I use to love. The park looks like a massive tornado went through and smashed everything beautiful.

I had another opportunity to help someone while in the park. On the back side of the park we came across a large and muddy session of trail. Wyatt and I walked our bikes around the mud, then went back to help a young female who was pushing her son in a stroller. We picked up the stroller and escorted them around the mud. The lady was very thankful, as were we for the opportunity to help.

Trail Bike:

11.12 miles

1:14:10

9.0 mph

While working in my flower beds, I saw the first snake of the session. It was only a simple brown garden snake, but he had a lot of attitude. He was accidently sprayed with round-up, so I’m not sure if he will live or not. It’s really early to see active snakes. Urg…

Push-ups:53

Stuck in the mud

Worked 6 hours at Citywide Lawn and Pest

Breakfast: Mikes Rise and Shine: 9

The turkey sausage patties and eggs were superb. The sweet potato chunks were undercooked, ruining one of my favorite vegetables.

Lunch: Beef Tenderloin Stir Fry: 9.5

What a GREAT meal. I cannot wait to try this meal with chicken. This meal was placed in my order by accident, but it was a treat. Loved the rice and soy-sauce flavor to the fresh veggies.

Snack: Egg-O-Licious

Dinner: Mel’s Country Chicken

While helping Tom, we visited some beautiful and peaceful properties in Field Store, Texas. The sky seemed as big as the outdoors, a plethora of song birds were singing, and there wasn't a sound or sight of transportation noise. It was beautiful out there and reminded me of my grandfather’s property in Anderson, Texas. I don’t have long-term plans to stay in Texas, but if I did… I’d want a place like this.

We had a slow day at work, but I got a little exercise pushing a spreader on the property mentioned above and unloading a pallet of fertilizer. I felt it was best to skip cardio today and let my legs recoup. I completed my push-ups just before bed.

Push-ups: 52

On the drive to the counseling session I had an opportunity to help a handicapped man in distress. As I was driving down the road I could tell something wasn’t right, so I turned around and went to assist. The obese handicapped man was using a modified wheel chair to exercise. There was a small third wheel in front of him, which he steered and pedaled with his hands, like a bicycle. He had veered off the sidewalk and one rear wheel was stuck in the mud. He had been stuck for quite some time by the look of the ruts he created trying to free himself. I had to walk across a field to get to him and he was yelling for help as loud as he could. After the incident I found myself wondering how many people saw him and didn't care enough to help. There were literally hundreds of cars driving by every minute. After we left we saw the man a little ways down the road and he was pedaling VERY slow, again proving that he had probably been there awhile and had exhausted himself trying to get free. It was sad the incident happened and I’m conflicted by the choices that the drivers made to do nothing to help.

The night ended very stressful. It has nothing to do with the story above, but I don’t understand people and why they react the way they do. With the weight of the stress over me, I almost faltered my diet last night by actually getting in my truck and driving to get "fast food" . Thankfully, I found the willpower to overcome the urge to let food comfort me.

Without Discipline, there is no Pride. -WWC

Just another day...

Yet again, I found myself sitting at 4-Wheel Parts, trying to determine the source of the vibration in my truck. Last week the mechanics thought problem was a bad tire. This morning they installed a new tire, but the vibration remains. Now they are going to warranty out my wheels and order a new (different) set of wheels.

My legs are still insanely sore. I went for another walk with Molly to loosen up the muscles, but nothing seems to help. The pace is a clear indicator of how bad my legs are hurting. On a positive note; it was another nice day outdoors, even though I haven’t seen the sun today.

Walk:

2.64 miles

50:14

19:02 pace

Breakfast: Mix N Mash

Snack: Fit 2 Go

Lunch: Chargrilled Crazy Chicken

Dinner: Tenderloin with vegetables: 8

This meal was the biggest surprise of all the MFF meals. I prefer chicken over red meat, so I was concerned about this meal. The large cuts of beef tenderloin were both moist and tasty. The vegetables were perfectly prepared and in large quantity.  

PM Snack: Shake

I’m using a new egg white protein. The taste is subtle, which should last longer than the tiring flavors I’ve had before.

I escorted Alyson on bicycle to pick up Melanee. We made the pick-up location a part of our five-mile loop. On our way home we stopped by My Fit Foods, so Alyson could pick up a few meals. It was a nice ride. Most of the water has resided from the greenbelts. Our pace was slower than I expected, again... the  result of sore legs.

This evening I struggled with the aromas from all the local restaurants. I’m staying the course and hopefully will be rewarded on the scale.

Trail Bike:

8.61 miles

59:48

8.64 mph

Push-ups: 101

Squats: 101

There was a huge mental struggle for me to complete the push-up and squat challenge (plus those I missed yesterday). I really need to make sure I don’t forget again!

9-miles

My scale weight is frustrating me. I’ve not lost any significant weight this week. Something has to give if I want to see a 20-25 pound loss during the challenge.

Breakfast: Americano

Snack: Trail Mix

The deep chocolate chips were a delightful treat. The packaging kept the snack fresh. It might take me a while to get use to unsalted nuts. At 310 kcal it is a bit calorically high for a dieter such as me.

Lunch: BBQ Chicken

Dinner: Fit Nation Nuggets: 9

I enjoyed the nuggets and mustard sauce. The broccoli was great. The carrots were large uncooked chunks, which was not to my liking.

Alyson and I both woke up with extremely sore legs after yesterday’s hard work out.  The Woodlands Half Marathon is only two weeks away, so we decided to go for a long walk/run. The weather couldn’t have been any more perfect. The session started out hard. The muscle soreness was tolerable after 3.5 miles, only to return at six miles. We stayed true to our intervals and had a great workout…. Even though we’re limping around the house like we’ve been shot.

Molly went with us too and I think we finally broke her fear of cars. Our route went along Northpark, Kingwood Drive, and West Lake Houston Parkway. She went crazy at first (as usual), but quickly learned the cars were not going to harm her. I’m not sure where this fear came from, but I’m glad it’s fleeting. Molly did very well and she seemed happy to walk/run with us.

Run/walk:

9.07 miles

2:31:57

16:24 pace

We had enough time left in day to stop by Performance Bikes and Academy. Unfortunately,  I overlooked the daily push-ups and squats. 

Stairs

We started the day with a drive to the Greenspoint area to find a tall building. It’s been raining for two days, leaving the outdoors a total mess. Alyson and I were hoping to slip into a high-rise unnoticed and climb some stairs.

We found success at the Hilton hotel, even though the building was only sixteen stories high. We were able to ascend and descend the building three times, with an additional three stories to finish 51-flight of stairs.

The stairs proved to be difficult for Alyson; at one time I could see a couple tears rolling down her face, but she never asked to quit and she pushed hard till the end. Once we were done her legs were trembling so bad it was almost comical. (No, I didn't laugh, I was in a bit of pain myself!)

Stairs:

51-Flights

22:43

Once we got home and had lunch, we took off on her bikes. We rode to River Grove Park and then finished my five mile loop. The greenbelts were nasty, leaving our bodies and our bikes wet and muddy.

Trail Bike:

8.11 miles

49:55

9.75 mph

After an exhausting morning we decided to knock out the daily push-ups and squats. We were both sore, but feel better now that they are done.

Push-ups: 49

Squats: 49

Breakfast: H-town

Snack: Egg-o-Licious

Lunch: Turkey Loaf

Dinner: Raj’s Tikka Masala

This spice was an interesting taste. It took a few bites to make a decision, but I like it. The chunks of chicken were bigger in this dish. I’m not sure if that is on purpose or by chance. I enjoyed the veggies which included, red bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, and mushrooms.

Last night I realized my shake is adding too many calories to my diet. I’m cutting half of the vanilla almond milk, shaving more than 90 calories. 

Taxes

I was scheduled to work at Humble FD. Shortly after arriving I requested the day off. We had enough people on duty for me use vacation time.

I was tired from yesterdays workout, so I didn’t do any cardio today. This is typical of my usual off-day Fridays. I did complete my push-ups and squats. The new continuous push-up record is at 32.

Push-Ups: 48

Squats: 48

This week I’ve put put math homework on the backburner, so today I decided to use the time to get caught up.

I FINALLY received my corrected W2’s from Humble FD, enabling me to finish my taxes.

Breakfast: Mix N Mash

Snack: Picnic Time

Lunch: Hawaiian Chicken

Dinner: Chicken enchiladas: 8

Tasty meal but it was far from filling. The fresh jalapeno atop of the enchiladas was extremely hot. Hot jalapenos is not a bad thing either. There were black beans in the tray, but very few. I didn’t eat the pico because of the onions.

Recently I noticed something significant about the My Fit Foods Challenge. On occasion I get hungry, but I seldom have cravings. I think this is helping me avoid those dreadful binge meals to satisfy a particular food craving.

Sore legs

Working 6 hours at Lone Star College Fire Academy

I haven’t seen any weight loss this week. I’ll increase my cardio-fitness and try harder to get into a significant calorie deficit.

Breakfast: Breakfast Tacos: 9

Tacos have been a long time staple of mine, although I’m not use to corn tortillas. I don’t mind the corn tortillas, but they kept falling apart. I would have liked a small amount of fresh organic salsa to complete this dish.

Snack: Chicken Fruit Bowl: 8

I’m really enjoying the MFF snacks.  This entrée included grapefruit, which I didn’t eat. Otherwise, tasty and filling snack!

Lunch: Simple Chicken: 9

All my favorites in one dish; chicken, rice, and broccoli. Although I found myself wanting something with spices.

Dinner: Chili

PM Snack: Shake

The daily push-up challenge is not getting any easier, although I did 30 continuous push-ups this morning. My legs must be sore, because the squats were tough.

Push-ups: 47

Squats: 47

I took Molly for a walk/run on the greenbelts. The humidity sucked a lot of my energy, but the intervals were dog walking friendly. I tested Molly and ran the last mile home. She did GREAT. A few more walk/runs training sessions and she will be my official running buddy…

Walk:

5.44 miles

1:22:30

15:10 pace

After lunch I went for a bike ride. It’s only been a couple hours since my walk, but the weather improved significantly. Nice cool temps, gentle breeze, and the sun was trying to peek through the clouds. On the other hand, my legs were far worse than earlier. My legs are sore and the ride was harsh.

Trail Bike:

5.89 miles

35:05

10.1 mph

Cheat meal remorse

Worked 5 hours at Lone Star College Fire Academy

Alyson asked me to help her by taking Melanee to daycare this morning. I’ve got a lot on my schedule, so I had to multi-task in order to get everything done. I decided to take Melanee to school on my trail bike, combining taking Melanee to school and exercising. The total round trip was nearly fourteen miles. The weather was nasty. The fog was so heavy it seemed like rain at times.

On the way back home I stopped by HEB. I enjoyed talking with the manager of the nutrition section. I’ve always wanted to try UDO's 3/6/9 oil, but assumed it was a specialty item that had to be ordered online or purchased at Whole Foods in Houston. The manager told me they’ve been carrying Udo’s oil for more than five years. Even better, it is reasonably priced. We talked about the different kinds of pure, organic cranberry juices for the liver detox. In fact, she is now carrying the B-12 liquid supplement that My Fit Foods is suggesting as part of their cocktail.

I’m currently taking EFA Lean as my omega 3/6/9 supplement. I’m shocked at the difference in the concentrations;

Udo’s Oil versus EFA Lean:

Omega 3 – 6 grams versus 0.925 grams

Omega 6 – 3 grams versus 0.715 grams

Omega 9 – 3 grams versus 0.550 grams

Trail Bike (with Trailer):

13.68 miles

1:25:58

9.55 mph

I’m regretting yesterday’s cheat meal for several reasons, including but not limited to;

-I had a headache as soon as I finished eating, which lasted several hours

-I didn’t sleep well last night

-The scale went up, significantly

-The food was great, but it wasn’t as satisfying as I had anticipated

What is done, is done. Today is a new day and I’m going to strive to steer clear of additional cheat meals during the remaining two-weeks of the challenge.

Breakfast: H-Town

Snack: Picnic Time

Lunch: Turkey Pasta: 10

I’ve found another great meal. The seasoning on the meat was similar to chili and the dish had an overall spaghetti flair. The large chunks of tomatoes were my favorite…

I went for a second bike ride after deciding I needed canning jar lids from Sears. No need to take the truck when the store is only 1.5 miles away, right?! I was trying to improve my pace, but I kept slowing down for the massive water puddles.

Trail Bike:

3.54 miles

20:16

10.48 mph

Push-Ups: 46

Squats: 46

Off to work at the college tonight. We are suppose to burn, so I should get a decent calorie deficit from the work...

Valentines Day cheat meal

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Worked 9 hours at Humble FD. I took off the last part of the shift to go on a date with Alyson.

Breakfast: Blueberry Perfect Patty: 5

Filling entrée, but it lacked taste. Not much to say about these patties other than, blah…

Snack: Fit to Go: 10

This was an enjoyable combination of fresh apples and grapes with a delicious peanut butter for dipping. The entrée also included a hardboiled egg.  Very satisfying snack

Lunch: Chargrilled Crazy Chicken

Dinner: Gimme More Chicken Salad: 8

The taste of chicken salad over a bed of romaine lettuce was nicely paired. The chicken salad was full of flavor.  I would have liked some cucumbers, tomatoes or other low calorie veggies to give me a more full filling.

PM: Cheat Meal: Mexican Food

Chips galore, salsa, grilled chicken fajitas, three flour tortillas, two servings of rice, iced water, and four sopapilla’s.

Push-ups: 45

Squats: 65

After my valentines date with Alyson we did push-ups and squats during the commercials of the Biggest Loser. 

Rainy day in Kingwood

Another great night of restful sleep... I could get use to this! I was scheduled to work at Citywide Lawn today, but the weather forced Tom to postpone the work.

Breakfast: H-town

Snack: Picnic Time: 9.5

This is what I envision in a healthy snack. I liked the variety of items in the container which included; almonds, crackers, cranberries, cheese, apple slices, and grapes

Lunch: Lean Lemon Turkey; 9

I'm not fond of bitter items, so I removed the lemon wedges prior to cooking.  The lemon taste wasn't as strong as expected; in fact the lunch entree was quite enjoyable. I could have used more veggies for a more filling feeling. The asparagus was perfectly cooked, but the dish only included two spears.

Dinner: Ninja Tenderloin: 7

I’m not a fan of red meat, never have been. There were a lot of onions. Luckily the onions were large enough to pick out by hand and they didn’t seem to alter the taste of the other veggies. I also noticed that this entrée is one of the more expensive MFF meals. So, it’s kind of hard to “want” to purchase this meal again. On a positive note, the beef tenderloin was filling and the large chunks of carrots, spinach, and mushrooms went well with the meat.

PM Snack: Shake

I tried a different protein powder called, Source of Life Energy shake. I ran out of vanilla almond milk, so I added one cup vanilla and one cup of plain almond milk. Nothing else was added, other than fiber. The taste was lackluster. I could easily imagine adding seasonal fruit to make a large variety of different tasting shakes. This brand will certainly be considered, although I might ask for suggestions on Endurance Planet.

I’m happy with the support I’m getting with the MFF staff. Tara has been happy to answer all my questions and give me advice and support when needed. I can see why so many people are successful with the MMF 21-day challenge.

Push-up: 44

Squats:  15

Alyson and I walked along the greenbelts. She pushed Melanee in the stroller while I escorted Molly on the leash. Molly has come a long way with her leash training and we can finally walk/run without issues.

It has rained all day, leaving behind a lot of water and humidity. Even though the weather was sub par, I felt great on the trails. I threw in eight minutes of slow running. It is amazing how a change of diet can improve your running... even when you’re not running. Alyson said she struggled today. She dressed for colder weather, so she was hot and uncomfortable.

Walk:

2.90 miles

46:38

16:05 pace

Family time

It was a whirlwind of a day, trying to squeeze in as much quality time with the family as possible. As soon as I got home from work I bundled the kids up for the cool weather, and packed snacks and drinks for the park. Melanee went to church with her grandparents, while Alyson, Alison, Preston, and molly (the dog) went for a walk in Eisenhower Park.

Preston struggled on his bike because of the rolling terrain, so we didn't walk as far as I had hoped. Either way, the kids had fun eating snacks by the lake and playing on the playground.

We ate lunch near the piers in Harbors Way, while waiting to pick up Melanee. It was too pretty outside to sit inside a restaurant, so we found a pleasant spot on a grass hill where they shared a sandwich and left over snacks. Houston’s weather tends to be hostile, so we wanted to take advantage of the outdoors…

I’ve been very proud of myself on the latest diet. The challenge paperwork allows/encourage one cheat meal per week, but I haven’t cheated one single calorie. It has been hardest while cooking for the kids. Friday night I made a huge pot of spaghetti and it looked and smelled so good. I’ve resisted my temptations by repeating a common mantra;. “Without Discipline, there is no Pride”.

Push-ups are getting boring, but it’s the only strength training I’m doing right now, so I will stick with it. Scott has started doing the same challenge with squats. I’ll start those as well.

Push-ups: 43

Breakfast: Americano

Snack: Hummus Bowl: 8

Hummus is a favorite dip of mine, but there wasn’t enough packaged to satisfy my taste for the dip. As usual, the My Fit Foods tomatoes, celery, and carrots were fresh and crisp. The chunks of chicken seemed a little dry, but that is only because this snack is served cold.

Lunch: Cynthia’s BBQ chicken: 9.5

This is another great dish with only one issue… nothing about thus dish tasted like BBQ. The fresh chicken had a delightful taste, but not even close to the taste of BBQ. As I’ve stated before, the cheddar mashed potatoes are awesome and the green beans were fresh and tasty.

Dinner: Country Dinner

PM Snack: Shake

I’m close to running out of fruitein and when I do I want to find a plain or vanilla protein, so I’m not obligated to the banana/orange taste of the Fruitein powder. I need to do the same with the fiber I add to the shake, but that will take a while, because I have lots left.

This evening Alyson, Melanee, Molly , and I went for a walk. We covered a longer distance while Melanee rode her bike.We didn’t have any issues whatsoever, so this turned out to be a great outing. Nice cool evening walk on the greenbelts.

Walk (both walks combined):

3.90 miles

1:21:54

20:54 pace

Networking...

Working 24 hours at Humble FD

The MFF challenge is going a lot better than I expected. I could see this being a lifestyle, if only it was cheaper.

Breakfast: Mix-n-Mash; 9
Interesting taste for breakfast, but plenty tasteful. I found it odd to eat rice for breakfast.

Snack: Egg-o-licious

Lunch: Blazin’ Cajun Shrimp; 5

Loved the turkey version of “dirty rice”. The entrée comes with two lemon wedges, which overpowers the otherwise great taste of the rice. The shrimp was covered in spices which were entirely too salty for my pleasure. The asparagus was awesome. I’d enjoy this dish with a healthy serving of asparagus and dirty rice, minus the lemon.

Dinner: DENYSE’S Killuh chili

PM snack: Shake

The day started busy, which hindered my ability to do homework at work. On a positive note, I learned that one of the part-timers from Houston FD is enrolled in the PSL program that I’m starting. Not only did he answer some of my questions, but her gave me several text books!

Push-ups: 42

Oatmeal

Just as the nutritional consultant suggested, the MMF cocktail is indeed getting easier to drink.

I spent all morning at 4wheels parts trying to fix the vibration in my truck. After three hours and several prior visits, they have identified the problem as a bad tire. They have to order a new one, so maybe next week I will have the issue resolved.

I’m sitting here shocked at how much I must have “doctored-up” my oatmeal in the past. Oatmeal has always been a staple when I’m dieting. I use to add items like; nuts, banana, Splenda (or real sugar), and butter. I like oatmeal because it’s tasty, fast, and VERY filling. After this morning’s breakfast, I have a different opinion of oatmeal

Breakfast: Choice Oatmeal: 2

The meal was an epic fail. The oatmeal had a dry rice-like texture and lacks any taste whatsoever. On the other hand, I wasted no time gobbling up the fresh berries and walnuts. I could easily smell cinnamon, but I never tasted the spice. I ate about half of the oatmeal and stopped. Later today I will toss the remaining oatmeal into my shake...

Lunch: Turkey Meatloaf: 10

Up to this point, the turkey meatloaf is my favorite meal. In fact, I would put this meal against some of my tasty unhealthy favorites. Wow, the meatloaf was great, served with two of my favorite veggies; broccoli and sweet potatoes!

Snack: Egg-o-licious: 10

I’m stoked to find another perfect meal. Thankfully these meals are portioned, because I could have eaten a lot of the egg salad! I absolutely loved the egg salad and tortilla chips. The fresh celery gave me the feeling of healthiness. Yes, I know that sounds weird. It’s hard to believe a snack this tasty is healthy.

Dinner: Killuh Chili: 9

I’ve had this meal before. Taste is bountiful, but I’m left wanting more.

Picked-up the kids this evening.

Push-up: 41

Sleeeeeeep

Day two of the MFF challenge.

I’m feeling good after a LONG night of sleep. I was doing homework last night at 6pm and couldn’t keep my eyes open, so I decided to lay down for a 1-hour nap. The next thing I remember was waking up at 7am this morning. Apparently, all my obligations are taking a toll on me. Either way, I feel really good now.

I cycled to the barber shop, which was roughly eight miles. I made a wrong turn on the Hunters Ridge greenbelts, which added another mile to my trip. The weather is pleasant, sunny and 65 degrees.  My legs were tired and I’m not sure why…

Trail Bike:

8.89 miles

52:24

10.18 miles

I knocked out the push-ups early. I tend to forget about them, so now they are done!

Push-ups: 40

Breakfast: H-town Breakfast; 8

The meal is moderately filling. Loved the potatoes. Admittedly, potatoes have always my favorite veggie.  I’m not digging the Turkey bacon. It’s a weird science project that neither taste like bacon or turkey…

Lunch: Chargrilled Crazy Chicken: 10

This is the first ten I have given. The chicken was moist and ever so tasty. I had to refrain myself from licking the container. The sweet potatoes with walnuts were fresh and filling. Even the green beans had a fresh crispness to them.  The only thing I would have changed is a tiny bit more sweet potatoes to get me till that next meal.

Dinner: Wes’ Country Dinner:  7

Taste is very personal… and I didn’t like the taste of the chicken crust. The chicken itself was tasty and I enjoyed the cauliflower "mashed potatoes" and the side of kale/spinach. The meal was marginally filling.

The late afternoon shake included one scoop of fruitein, one serving of fiber, ice, ½ cup water, and two cups of vanilla almond milk. The taste was good, but I think it would have even better with less water.

I found myself quite hungry, including hunger pangs late this evening. I increased my water intake to ward away the hunger. I kept repeated my mantra; Without Discipline, there is not Pride....

My Fit Foods challenge, day 1

Working 24 hours at Humble FD

First day of the MFF challenge.

I tend to shy away from sour tasting foods, which made the MMF cocktail a shock to my taste buds. I elected to do the smaller volume shooter and be done with it.

Even though I have a past of unhealthy eating, I tend to be picky. On this blog I plan to grade the various meals by volume (how full they make me feel) and taste. It will be a simple 1-10 rating…

Breakfast:  Americano Breakfast:  9

Very filling meal, which held my hunger pangs till lunch time. I wasn't excited about the red meat. I would have rather chunks of chicken or turkey. Very tasty meal

Lunch: Hawaiian chicken; 9

Again, very filling. The fruit was pleasantly fresh and sweet. The parboiled rice could have used more flavoring

Dinner: Brady’s Cobb salad:  7

GREAT tasting salad, yet I found myself hungry one-hour after the meal.  Fresh ingredients. The tomatoes were some of the sweetest I have ever eaten! I might have exchanged more eggs for less turkey bacon.

Between lunch and dinner I had a “protein shake”. I used my own Fruitein, which is a combination of various fruit, soy, rice, and pea proteins. I combined the mix with one serving of fiber. Usually I make a smoothie with fresh/frozen fruit then add ice, SPLENDA, and almond milk. The fruitein and fiber alone as a shake lacked a desirable taste. I will need to tweak this shake and make it taste better naturally.

The only physical fitness I completed was my daily push-ups. I planned on walking, but I went to bed early.

Push-ups: 39

Too busy to breathe

This has been a super busy day.

By 8am, I found myself in The Woodlands taking the state test for Hazardous Materials Technician. I forgot a very important piece of paper, but luckily Chief Frost had a copy in his file cabinet. He was the hero of the day! The test went good, but I could have done a lot better with more studying the night before. Bottom line, I’m confident I passed.

As soon as I got back to Kingwood, I met up with Steve and Westin and we went cycling inside Eisenhower Park. Wyatt was slated to ride with us too, but his daughter was sick.  We had a great ride in the park, although it was quite a bit slower than I expected. Westin is riding a hybrid bike, which makes it difficult to maintain the same speeds with road bikes. Near the end of the ride we were confronted by two large dogs. We had to get off our bikes and carefully walk past them, but we survived without any negative issues. Otherwise, it was a great day in the park.

Road Bike:

13.08 miles

1:01:57

12.67 mph

After lunch, I took my second college math exam. I’ve been very successful with this class, yet this test slapped me in the face. I made an 81 and I’m better than that. Late this evening I submitted the test corrections for half my missed points back and I should get another 5 points for taking the test early. In the end, I should get an A. I need to slow down and absorb more of the information, because it’s not going to get any easier!

I had a consultation with My Fit Foods at 5pm. I was inquiring about their 21-day challenge. The staff has always been all smiles and helpful, but the girl doing the nutritional consultation today really knew her stuff! I’ve been a yo-yo dieter all my life and a wanna be athlete/coach. And honestly, I know what to do… I just don’t apply my knowledge. This girl actually gave me new information that was useful!

Alyson’s dad bought her a new bike today. We’re both excited that we can start getting outside more and staying consistent with our fitness. I keep trying to run, but at this weight it simply hurts too much. I’m going to try and concentrate on walking and cycling as my primary forms of cardiovascular exercise.

I forgot to finish all my push-ups yesterday, so while I was watching the Biggest Loser, I did push-ups during the commercials. 

Push-ups; 75

UHCL

I’ve done lots of studying today. I have two major tests tomorrow, Hazardous Materials technician and college math.

I visited with an advisor at the University of Houston Clear Lake today and I have a clear plan to get my BS degree. If I stick to my plan, it will take me 2.5-3 years to graduate. I’m glad a majority of the classes are online, because the campus is located one-hour from Kingwood. My declared degree is set in stone, BS in Public Service Leadership.

Once I got home from UHCL, I knocked out small chores around the house intermeshed with bouts of studying.

Alyson and I went to counseling this evening. The session went well. It's interesting how awakening the feeling is when you hear your behaviors (good and bad) expressed from a third party.

Push-ups: 25

I took an amazing picture of the campus building...

Eisenhower Park

Wyatt is helping me stay more consistent on the bike by joining me for weekly rides. He’s not been cycling much either, so we’re starting and progressing at the same speed. After a month of cycling, I might try to schedule some rides with Steve. Steve is always willing to ride, but he has a tendency to ride hard, which takes the enjoyment out of the ride.

Wyatt and I rode two loops inside Eisenhower Park and beat our prior time by 2:30 minutes, plus we added three extra miles. We plan to use the double loop as a measure of our fitness.

The weather was perfect. We saw four other riders in the park. After our ride, one of the older cyclists (60's) talked to us for 30-minutes about the sport. He was an interesting gentleman and I wish I was half as healthy as him. He mentioned he was already 3-hours into his morning ride and still needed to log another hour. He’s the MAN!

I finished my push-ups early, because I keep forgetting till late in the evening. I’m feeling a little stronger. I think the program is going to be a success!

Road Bike:

13.78 miles

57:50

Push-ups: 30

14.31 mph

Homework at work...

Worked 24-hours at Humble FD

I had a great shift on Medic two. I was able to finish lots of homework. The only call of the shift came in at 1:30am.

Not a bad day at all…

Push-ups: 28

Pride

I took the kids on a four-mile walk through the neighborhood, collecting trash. I used the opportunity to teach the kids about community service, pride, and recycling. 

I didn’t realize it, but today was a “Klean-wood” day, so there were large groups of people already on the streets picking up garbage.  We still found aluminum cans, which we collected for our recycling bin.

The rest of the day was spent being lazy with the kids. I attached a couple videos of the kids acting silly...

Walk:

3.97 miles

1:29:30

22:33 pace

First road bike session of 2012

Wyatt and I went to Eisenhower Park to ride our road bikes. It’s been more than six-months since either of us has been on our road bikes, so we decided to go for a nice and easy stroll around the park.

The weather was on the borderline of being too cold to ride, but it ended up being ideal cycling conditions.  The ride went well, although the hills took an exhausting toll on us. We worked on shifting into the small ring to climb the hills rather than standing up and aggressively climbing. This should help us better prepare for rolling hill terrain.

Alyson wanted to run this evening, so I followed her on my trail bike. Even though the bike speed was slow, it was another couple miles in the saddle.  

Push-ups: 30

Road Bike (plus 2.5 miles on trail bike)

12.92 miles

1:18:19

8.84 mph

Rain

I spent most of the day doing homework. I’m starting to wonder if going back to school to finish my BS is a smart idea. I have so much going on right now and it is starting to become another stressor, which I do NOT need.

Strong thunderstorms came through the area, leaving us with 3-4 inches of rain.

The rain continued for most of our evening run, but it wasn’t enough to scare away the Texas Trail Nerds! At least the rain distracted me from the huge loss of trees inside East End Park. It seems most of the large mature trees are all gone. This is very sad for our little park. I can tell the boardwalks have taken a beating from the fallen trees, but KOA seems to be on top of repairs.

The nerds were six strong and good times were had by all. I’m going to continue bringing my cooler with drinks. It was fun hanging out and talking before everyone took off.  Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t bad enough to scare away the mosquitos. They were swarming with vengeance this evening, OUCH!

The evening ended on a sad note. Erin emailed me a copy of Alison's 4th grade "pre-writing notes" for the STAAR practice essay. Alison chose to write about an important person in her life, me. The essay was sweet and loving, but I literally broke-down when she talked about seldom seeing her dad. I wish things were different...

Push-ups: 25

Run:

2.53 miles

33:50

13:22 pace

Night Run

Worked 7 hours at Humble FD (on a shift trade)

I’m learning to squeeze in time for homework wherever I can. Even though we ran three EMS calls during the 7-hours I worked, I still managed to complete another math homework assignment. Textbooks for the other two classes arrived today, which means more reading in my future.

It’s a rather long story, but I talked with a psychotherapist today. Within the first 30-minutes she labeled me as “passive-aggressive” based on one particular incident we discussed. She encouraged me to research the behavior and report back to her if she is correct. Well, I read about PA on multiple online websites and she missed this diagnosis. Seriously, 18 of the top 20 most commons signs of PA don’t fit me at all. In fact, many are complete opposites. I wonder why she said I was PA?

I took advantage of the slightly cooler weather with a two-mile run. The run pace was faster than I expected, yet the walk pace was slower than I anticipated. Either way it was a good workout. I ran on the greenbelts at night, without a light. Not being able to see more than 10-feet ahead heightens your senses and allows me to forget about the uncomfortableness of the run.

Push-ups: 23

Run:

2.34 miles

33:49

14:27 pace

Worn out

This year’s obligations have already taken a toll on my body. School, work x 2, training, and a small social life keep me going 100-mph. It’s been exceptionally tough for the last three weeks and now it is catching up to me. I’m feeling sickly.

This morning Alyson convinced me to go for a walk at Lake Houston Park. Even though I didn’t feel well, I enjoyed my time outdoors. It was nice to see the trails were in good shape and the trees fared significantly better than they did in Kingwood.

We added a handful of small running intervals on our out-and-back route, but our overall pace makes it appear we walked the entire duration.

I’m on day two of my daily push-up challenge.

Push-ups: 22

Run:
5.25 miles

1:32:08

17:33 pace

Nasty weather

Working 21 hours at Humble FD today

I took off a few hours this morning to attend a college orientation class. Afterwards I managed to squeeze in a small walk/run.

The humidity was off the charts and it was warm, resulting in a miserable run. I left the house in a good mood and came back cussing the Houston climate.

I’ve been talking about starting a daily push-up challenge, which I finally started today. It’s rather simple. I do push-ups every day. I look to see what day of the year it is and I do that many push-ups. For example, today is the 21^st day of 2012, so I did 21 push-ups. I’ll increase by one push-up every day. Sounds simple enough, but let’s see how the retention fares.

Push-ups: 21

Run:

2.35 miles

37:49

16:06 pace

Trailwood Village Bike Route

Busy day at work yesterday yielded an unproductive day. Once I got home I took a quick shower and slept till 3pm. 

I lounged around the house before I finally decided to take my trail bike out for a neighhood stroll. The nearly full-moon lit the streets and the mild winter weather was ideal for cycling. My goal was to ride on every street in Trailwood. Once I uploaded the workout data I realized I missed a few streets.

Trail Bike:

13.14 miles

1:20:21

9.8 mph

First 5-miler of 2012

The first run of 2012 was almost perfect. If today’s run is an insight to the year ahead, then it is going to be a GREAT year!

I pushed Preston in the stroller while Alison biked. Even Alyson joined the fun, making a last minute plea to be able to complete the Woodlands Half Marathon in March. The regimen was an odd mixings of running and walking. I’m proud to say there was a lot more running over the last half of the 5.4 mile loop.

Run:

5.36 miles

1:19:57

14:54 pace

Happy New Years!

I’m totally slacking with my usual New Year recap and resolutions. I’m not even sure I want to set new resolutions, as I tend to seldom adhere to them for more than a month.  

I managed to squeeze in a small 3 mile run (with a lot of walking) this evening. We set out for six miles but had to make an adjustment and settle for three. I forgot my knee brace, which is unfortunate because my knee is quite bothersome now.

The scale was unfriendly to me this morning, revealing a number I was NOT expecting. Sigh...

Run:

3.09 miles

49:08

15:53 pace

MS150 bike ride

Worked 24 hours at Humble FD

It’s New Year’s Eve and I have to work another holiday, while my friends are out partying like rock stars! Luckily, district two was slow today with the exception of a townhouse fire.

I had intentions of squeezing in one more run for 2011, but I got lazy and sat around doing a bunch of nothing.

This evening I took the final step and OFFICIALLY signed up for the MS150 bike ride. Hopefully I can raise the required $400 before March. I’ll be riding with Team Hope. 

Triceps and Back with TS

Friday is historically my off day, but this was the only day Coach Alex could train me. My arms were noodles from the prior workout. We focused on triceps and back. I felt good in the gym and the exercises seemed to assist with the muscle soreness.

Strength Training:

Team Swol Gym

Triceps and Back

Decreased ROM

I finally found my way back into the gym after a two-week layoff. Coach Alex worked on my biceps and chest. There was a huge awakening in regards to my limited range of motion. I felt uncomfortable with a few of the exercises due to this reason, rather than the weights being too heavy.

Aly joined me this evening for a small run around the subdivision. There was sporadic knee pain, seldom lasting more than 50 yards.

The cool air makes my exercise sessions a pleasure.

Run:

3.09 miles

46:19

14:59 pace

Strength Training:

Biceps and Chest

Team Swol Gym

District two run

Worked 24 hours at Humble FD

Leisurely run around station two this evening.

Run:

2.70 miles

39:19

14:33 pace

I was finally able to upload the Garmin and BodyBugg drivers onto my new laptop, as well as synced my iPhone with the new itunes. At least those three things are out of the way. I still need to work on my old training log and determine if Training Peaks is the right online program for me. 

Molly's hip

I went out for another walk/run with Molly. Something went wrong and I feel HORRIBLE about it. Molly was having her typical panic attack when a car drove by and I pulled her forward. I pulled a little harder than expected and she came off the ground and landed on her hip. Shortly afterwards she was limping and we had to stop her run. I palpated the entire leg without any findings and I even moved her leg through typical range of motions without it bothering her. I’m assuming she pulled/sprung something in her hip.

After stopping Molly’s run, I continued with the small two mile route in Trailwood. I forgot to wear my knee brace, which was evident with right knee pain.  Otherwise I had a good run. Send me some positive vibes, hoping molly isn’t seriously injured!

Run:

2.09 miles

32:00

15:18 pace

Stress relieving walk

After another dramatic Christmas, I decided it was time to go for a walk. Don’t read too much into that comment… it was WONDERFUL having my kids home for the holiday. Unfortunately, the women in my life tend to show an unflattering side during the holidays.  I’m not sure why it happens around Christmas for me, but it is getting old AND it is starting to make me hate this holiday for sure!

Molly and I walked a couple miles through Trailwood. It felt good to be outside.  Molly hasn’t been out much and the sight of vehicles driving near us sends her into a full panic attack. I’m not sure how to fix this…

Walk:

2.09 miles

35:31

16:59 pace

Leash Training

The City of Houston hired contractors to remove the dead trees throughout Kingwood. Multiple crews have been working long hours to clear out these trees. Sadly, the landscape of Kingwood has drastically changed. My beloved Kingwood is not the same place anymore. I find the change disheartening.

I’ve patiently been leash training Molly for a month and today we had a huge breakthrough. Never have I seen a dog so resistant to a leash, but today Molly and I walked two-miles along the bayou without any significant issues. Way to go, Molly! I hope to be running with her in a few weeks.

I worked out with Team Swoll at the Sanctuary today. Last Tuesday I joined their sixty-day challenge which included 24 one-on-one personal training sessions. Today was my first session. Coach Alex ran me through an aggressive upper body workout with strong emphasis on my weak back. I pushed outside my comfort zone and ended up stopping twenty minutes into the workout to throw up! Gross, yes I know.  It’s great to be back in the gym. My personal goal is VERY aggressive; I’m shooting for 44 pounds in 60-days… wish me luck!

No one showed up for the Trail Nerd hill workout this evening. I was still exhausted from weight training, so I skipped the hill session as well. To make up for not running, Alyson and I went for a small walk/run while Melanee was having dinner with her father. The weather was nice and cool, making for an easy workout. I wish we would have had time for a few more miles, but I’m glad to run/walk when I can.

I’m stoked to report that I’ve also made it one week off meat! Tonight Alyson made a delicious spinach lasagna dish with lots of tasty and healthy ingredients. I felt a little selfish because I was weary to eat as much as I wanted too because I wasn’t sure of the calorie count. I know it was healthy, vegetarian, and made with good products, but I’m making a serious commitment to win this challenge. In the end, calories count the most, when trying to lose weight.

Push-ups: 60

Walk/run:

4.11 miles

1:03:59

15:34 pace

Trying to make amends...

Happy Vetereans Day!

Today is the beginning of three days off work and I’m not sure what to do with myself!

I straightened up around the house, played with Molly, and cleaned the garage this morning. I rode my bike to Schlotzsky’s for lunch. The ride along my 5-mile loop was very peaceful. Kingwood Lake is finally back to normal water levels, giving the lake its usual serene appearance. On my ride home I stopped by My Fit Foods for their daily special; "$0.11 turkey chili". I'm trying to eat meat-free, but this will be a healthy meal for the kids...

Starting today I’ve decided to go back to a vegetarian diet. The date being 11/11/11 will make it easy for me to remember when I started, right? I feel a lot healthier when I'm eating plant-based foods. The gross amount of weight gain is depressing, especially after seeing a few recent photos. Time to take control...

For several hours today I have been corresponding with the owner of Team Swoll regarding one-on-one personal training suited to fit my goals. It appears we have come to an agreement on both price and service. I’m stoked about getting back in the gym!

On a deeper level, I'm trying to repair a couple of old friendships. In order to protect people’s privacy I tend to leave a lot of content “coded” on my blog, so excuse the vagueness of this paragraph;

I wrote a heart-felt apology letter to an innocent bystander of my prior wrongdoing only to learn the letter will never reach the desired recipient. I respect the decisions of those involved closest to them, but I would like to make amends. I need those people (both of them) to know that I’m truly sorry. At this point I have to accept the fact that I tried.

Just before dark I ran the 3.5 mile WITH Loop. Apparently there was a lot of flooding in the area. All of our trails and orange markers on the East side of the bayou were destroyed. I didn't let the destruction stop my run. We heard a large pack of coyotes a hundred yards away as we entered the forest. We also saw countless deer on the trails. It was a slow walk/run, but cardio is cardio....

Trail Bike:

7.55 miles

41:22

10.95 mph

Push-ups: 60

Run/Walk:
3.64 miles
57:13
15:43 pace